Sadiq Khan’s expanded emissions zone risks splitting London in two and should be extended to the M25, according to many of the capital’s boroughs.
The Mayor has announced he will expand the forthcoming Ultra Low Emission Zone to the area inside the North and South Circular Roads by October 2021. The first part of Ulez launches in the congestion charge zone on April 8 next year, with older petrol and diesel cars paying £12.50 a day.
At least 11 boroughs, including Camden, Ealing and Hackney, told a Transport for London consultation that the new zone should extend across Greater London to the M25. There were also calls for the changes to be made more quickly. Seven boroughs, including Wandsworth, Lewisham, Barnet and Richmond, said they were concerned at being split by Ulez. They fear in-creased pollution and rat-running around the North and South Circulars.
This concern was shared by Mr Khan’s deputy mayor for education and childcare, Joanne McCartney, who represents Enfield and Haringey.
Wandsworth council transport spokesman Jonathan Cook said: “The expanded Ulez will cut Wandsworth in two. Our residents and businesses need to see clear mitigation plans to stop rat-running. We asked for detailed traffic modelling … but this has not been forthcoming. We feel the boundary is not in the right place.”
The John Lewis Partnership called for a six-month delay to expansion. It backs Ulez in principle but is concerned at the cost of replacing vehicles.
Signs and cameras for the expanded zone will cost £90 million to £130 million to install, but the charge is expected to recoup £2 million a day from 100,000 cars, 35,000 vans and 3,000 lorries, the Standard has learned. Drivers who fail to pay will be fined £160, not £130 as initially thought, in line with the new C-charge penalty.
A total of 37,513 people responded to the consultation, with 56 per cent pro expansion and 40 per cent against.
TfL said it chose the A406 and A205 as boundaries because drivers who wanted to avoid the charge needed “a clear and navigable diversion route”.
